Crows Pull Hair from Rapunzel Figure at Tokyo DisneySea

Visitors to Tokyo DisneySea in Japan witnessed an unusual disruption recently when crows perched on an animatronic figure of Rapunzel and pulled strands of synthetic hair from its head during the Rapunzel's Lantern Festival boat ride. The incident, captured in videos shared widely on social media platforms including TikTok and X, occurred in the park's Fantasy Springs area and prompted the temporary removal of the figure to allow for repairs.

The footage shows two or more crows landing atop the animatronic Rapunzel as she sways and sings from a tower window at the start of the attraction. The birds tugged at the character's long blonde locks, yanking away visible clumps while the figure continued its programmed movements. Parkgoers aboard the slow-moving boats reacted with a mix of gasps, laughter, and disbelief, their voices audible in the background of the clips. The ride, which recreates scenes from the 2010 Disney film Tangled, follows Rapunzel and Flynn Rider through romantic vignettes culminating in a lantern festival projection.

Experts on avian behavior attribute the crows' actions to nest-building instincts. Crows often select durable, flexible materials like synthetic...